Embracing Flexibility in an Ever-Evolving World

The Association for Women in Communications attracts phenomenal women sharing incredibly similar, yet unique experiences. In almost every conversation with the women in this group, I learn something new about my friends and profession, get good advice, or share my own perspective. As I sat down to coffee with our AWC chapter President Kara Pool-Snyder last week, I had a mini-epiphany! We ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed” over our two newborn sons, smiled at the milestones they’ve each hit since being born, commiserated over the lack of sleep, and laughed at how our routine and structured lives have been completely flipped upside-down. And that’s when it struck me…while once I was a structured, routine-focused, and timely person, having children has forced me to be flexible. And if you’re anything like me, flexibility isn’t easy!

As I look throughout my life (now and in the past), I realize that the situations, relationships, and experiences that caused me the greatest stress and frustration, are almost always the ones where I’m not being flexible. And, on the flip side, the more flexible I am – the more peace, ease, and fulfillment become available. Today, more than ever, we are challenged to be flexible – in our work, our relationships, and in every other important aspect of our lives. However, due to our own fear, arrogance, resistance, stress, and obsession with being right, we often end up being inflexible to our own detriment and to the frustration of those around us.

Being flexible is not about being weak or passive. Flexibility is a conscious choice, a powerful skill, and a valuable approach to the ever-changing, always-evolving world we live in. We can be firm in our convictions, passionate about our beliefs, and clear about our intentions, and at the same time be flexible enough to make significant changes and be open to new ideas along the way.

Here are some key elements to expanding your own capacity for flexibility in your life – which will lead you to great peace, joy, and fulfillment:

Let Go of Your Attachment
Whenever we get attached to something – a specific outcome, a particular way of doing things, a rigid opinion, etc. – we are, by definition, inflexible. Letting go of our attachment to something doesn’t mean we negate our desire or intention, it simply means we let go of controlling every aspect of it, forcing the action, and our fixation on it being exactly the way we think it should be.

Be Willing to Be Wrong
Most of us love to be right and will do and say just about anything to avoid being wrong.  Our obsession with “rightness” and fear of “wrongness” often gets in the way of going for what we want, saying what’s on our mind, and letting go of our fixed ideas about how things are supposed to be.  When we’re willing to be wrong (not necessarily interested in or intending to be wrong), we free ourselves up and give ourselves permission to take risks, try new things, and approach things (even really important things) with a creative, innovative, and flexible perspective.

Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously
Taking ourselves too seriously, creates unnecessary stress, pressure, and worry.  When we’re able to laugh at ourselves (in a kind way), keep things in perspective, and remember that most of what we deal with on a daily basis in life is not life or death – we can take ourselves less seriously and thus have a more balanced, peaceful, and creative way of relating to thing.

Go with the Flow
If we pay attention to life, there is a natural flow that exists. The more we’re able to tap into the natural flow of life, trust ourselves and others, and believe that things will work out – the more likely we are to allow things to roll off our backs and manifest with ease.

Get Support and Feedback From Others
The support and feedback of others is invaluable in so many aspects of our life and growth, especially as it relates to us being more flexible.  We can learn from and model others who are more flexible than we are.  We can also give people in our life permission to remind us (with kindness) when we get rigid, uptight, over-attached, and start taking ourselves too seriously.

Being flexible is something that’s often easier said than done for many of us. However, the more attention we place on expanding our flexibility the more likely we are to do it. As we enhance our ability to be flexible, our life can and will expand exponentially.

About the Author

Julie is an Academic Advisor & Lecturer in the School of Communication at Illinois State University. Julie’s job duties focus on assisting Public Relations and Journalism students plan their coursework, instructing a public speaking course and pre-professional course for Mass Media students, and coordinating a summer study abroad experience in Paris, France. Julie was previously employed in marketing at YWCA McLean County where she developed her skillset in social media, public relations and special events. She holds a B.S. and a M.S. from the School of Communication and a M.S. from the Department of English at Illinois State University. Julie is a past-president of the Bloomington-Normal AWC chapter and current serves as a board member at-large with AWC National.